Alfred Maselakgomo

A policeman who tried to defraud a clothing store with goods worth R7000 tried to kill himself when he was caught in the act.

The officer from Mpumalanga's Barberton police station is in a critical condition after shooting himself in the mouth when fellow policemen cornered him.

Police said the man tried to use a fake card to buy clothes at Edgars in Barberton when suspicious cashiers raised the alarm.

Police spokesman Gerry Agenbag said the workers alerted the police, who arrested the man. He managed to escape while pointing a firearm at other police officers who came to arrest him.

"The police managed to trace him to KaBokweni about 80km from Barberton," Agenbag said.

"When he realised he was cornered he shot himself in the mouth in an attempt to kill himself but failed to do so."

Agenbag said the man was in a critical condition in the Nelspruit Mediclinic under police guard.

"He faces a charge of attempted murder, escaping and fraud," Agenbag said.